French Model Anais Mali Talks Racism In Fashion With Into The Gloss

Anais Mali is the latest fashion model to speak up about racism she’s experienced in the industry. In an interview with Into The Gloss this week, Anais spoke about growing up in the South of France and her first attempts at traveling to Paris to try modeling; needless to say she didn’t just walk in and own the place, unfortunately.

She told ITG founder Emily Weiss, “I would go to Paris to do jobs. But none of the modeling agencies in Paris wanted to take me. I just kept hearing, ‘This is Paris; black girls don’t work here.’ France is very racist, you don’t see a lot of powerful black people in France—it’s starting but it’s slow-moving.” Paris does indeed have a strong conservative base, but you’d think that in the 2000s such blatant institutionalized racism might have waned a bit.

Perhaps Bethann Hardison’s diversity coalition is making inroads with so-called runway racism by keeping the issue on the minds of people in the industry. Anais has seen some progress, too. “I feel like the industry is trying to focus more on diversity, but there’s still a long way to go,” she said to ITG. “In Milan, you don’t really see black girls on the runway; it’s sad. You hear things like, ‘We already have Jourdan [Dunn], one black girl is enough.’ I’m getting good work, I’m happy, but I want to see more black girls.” We hear you, Anais. One black girl is enough? Talk about a ridiculous thing to say.

Anais didn’t just focus on heavy topics with ITG, she also spoke in depth about her beauty routines and favorite products. See here for all the details, including why Anais envies Doutzen Kroes’s butt.

Stories We Like

StyleBlazin' Brands

Comments

Otis Django

If Whites don’t accept Black women in their fashion shows then start your own . Many Just don’t find Blacks attractive or appealing. That is their right. Personally, I don’t find most White women attractive.

SHANNON

I AHVE EEN TRYING TO TELL YOU…WHITE MEN DO —–NOT—– FIND BLACK WOMEN ATTRACTIVE!! AT ALL!!!—–BUT………..YOUR FEATURES ON A WHITE WOMAN IS THE “HOTTEST THINGS THEY HAVE EVER SEEN”!!!!!! SISTERS ACCPET THIS…WHITES/MEXICANS ARE NOT CHECKING FOR YOU GORGEOUS BEAUTY….SO WE NEED TO LOVE EACH THER AND OURSELVES…CREATE OUT OWN SHOWS….MODELS…BRANDS….CLOTHING ETC! AND LEAVE THESE WHITES THE HELL ALONE!! WE NEED TO MOVE ON WITH OUR LOVES AND LEAVE THEM THE HELL ALONE…THEY HAVE SHOWN US HOW MUCH THEY REALLY HATE US…..OH…AND I DO NOT FIND WHITE WOMEN ATTRACTIVE AT ALL…

Otis Django

EXACTLY !

Justquestions89

Im sorry I have to ask? And Im not asking for me but how are black women suppose to love black men when the numbers are getting higher of them jumping ship.Or choosing women who have white features? That’s a cute idea thou…

JoeYardie

please there loads of black men out there that loves black women.. people like you make it seem like all black men are dating out smh..

Justquestions89

You must not have seen me post before.. Lol I didn’t say no black men dated black women.. I said there are more black men dating out.. The numbers don’t match.. and you know good and well a high number of the ones still dating us are choosing a particular looking type of black women. Im not saying all black women should give up on black men. Im saying if they want to be more than baby mommas and unmarried statistics they need to expand on their dating options… Def didn’t say stop dating black men.. Why would I I’m married to one but if I had to date in this day and age I would def date other races of men.

JoeYardie

,,,, ok is he a good dude

Justquestions89

Sometimes.. lol

JoeYardie

Nice

Lisa

I feel ya sister, but it’s not that they don’t find black women attractive…it’s more like they’re intimidated by blacks period. A beautiful black model will outshine a plain waif white model any day. They don’t want to be out-shined. Believe it or not, white men are not hard to get. If you asserted yourself to them, they would jump at the opportunity to date a black women. I’ve tested the theory, only to crush their little hearts.

Imani

Good way of manipulating bw, if bw are featured less, then Asian women are non existent, but they date out like a mutha. This has more to do with ownership and their need to continue their monopoly on fashion because it’s a money ship for them. You were the one saying that Mixed women are appreciated more on another thread but they are used even less then the darker black models who are considered high fashion. Bw date out if you want why would you stay with men who go out of their way to make you feel the worse so that you can stick with them. I date out because I can and will do as I please, I am not American btw, AAW you’re being mentally abused by AA males, don’t let them play you. Peace & love! :))

ohButReally

She is not real French; she is an African. Get over it. Too many blacks in a couture fashion show will empty the seats, and therefore the money. To many blacks scare white people away and change the air.

Otis Django

Many Blacks need White acceptance and love to feel good about themselves. This is a remnant of slavery.

Flo

So you are basically saying that african american are not real american too ?

JoeYardie

come on thats not what she is saying.. but the truth she aint really french… she is half Chad and half polish born and raised in france.

Lisa

It changes the air alright. Too many gorgeous black women around intimidates white people. They want to show “white” as the only idea of beauty, and we definitely know that’s not the case.

always the biracial ones that are Crying… not the black models like ajak deng/janeil thompson and etc..

commonsense1

We blacks should move on, we want to be accepted by these jerks in fashion, We should use our buying power where we are wanted…Blacks star should not attend any fashion events that are racist…we should stand up

RHONYC

i’ve seen Anais’ editorial work everywhere from Lancome to Neiman’s to Banana Republic. i’d be thankful for the work i got so i’d be blessed with more. the end.

GramzGetMoney

its just hate

Mina

Most model agencies are headed and ran by women, ww who have this obsession with folksy ethereal whimsy and almost like a mother who lives their life through their child, these women choose women they wish they were when they were young. WW are just as responsible for racism against women of color, many of the campaigns for woman’s products have some ww asking for some blond e chick. Men in this industry probably hire woc and photographed woc far more than ww who are stuck on whimsy and having their image portrayed in everything. I remember Yves Saint Laurent was a supporter of black models. And quite a few male white photographers taking lovely photo’s of bw if it was up to ww they’d have their image in everything only.